WacoCharlie,

See if either of these threads interest you.

steering wheel knock
Steering Column 'Clack' resolved

Great information. I will check this weekend!! One good thing, so far, is my 4runners new muffler has increased my fuel mileage over 1 mpg....sounds like bs but it is true. If I don't find something soon I will replace all the shocks, hate to get rid of the xreas but I'm sure bilsteins will be good and I can raise the front an inch or so. FYI when I left the shop after my r inner tie rod r/r my hood and gas flap where open....used to do it all myself...now I remember why...getting to old to bust out suspension work! Nice lead on the shock prices, that's as cheap as I have seen them.

Thx t-man. Great price. I ordered a set. My son and I really spent some more time checking this out. It seems like all 4 corners with the r f being the worst and when the r f makes a clunk the l r makes a noise. What are your thoughts on front end height. Should I leave it stock or is there an advantage to "leveling" it?

I had a knocking "dunk" type sound from the front end same as you describe. AFter trouble shooting a bunch of things, greasing a bunch of parts in the front end, I just removed the swaybar altogether and the knocking disappeared.

Since my last post in this thread I lifted my truck and the clunking noise has gone away for now and hopefully for good. 5100s and fj springs up front, fj springs and 1.5 ds spacer in the rear. I always felt like the noise was coming from the right front also.

Well she is losing the xreas. I did not mess with my sway bar bexause two master cert Toyota/Lexus techs said it was fine. One of them was in Lexus R/D and gifted a Lexus LX480 or whatever the 4runner equilivent is. Although so far they have both incorrectly diagnosed the noise. After the shocks I'm getting close to a grand on this knock. Maybe more if I don't replace them myself. I guess if I do myself I know it will get done correctly. Any links on how to replace them? Thx

How about the cam bolts on the lower control arm? Or lower control arm bushings?

Im still knock free at this point. I ordered a body lift and will be installing that myself hopefully next weekend. I can report back on the condition of the mounts and that may give you some insight on the problem. Although my noise is gone for now it could come back. And all info regarding any possibilities is good IMO.

sorry i cant help with any links on the how to but it is pretty straight forward once you get down and take a look at it. Google search the no spring compressor method for the front struts, I used it and it worked like a charm.

Im a firm believer in do it yourself, you know its going to be done right.

4runner doesn't have struts, it has double wishbone, and the shock does not turn.

I thought that an assembled front shock and spring was a strut(shock) but hey I may have the wrong terminology there.

That is a coilover (coil over shock), technically. Struts are shit for suspension, they have a failure assured top bearing (which you mentioned), and change camber throughout suspension movement. The only thing they have going for them is they are simple and very cheap. If a Toyota product bearing struts is ever called a 4Runner, I'll never acknowledge it as a 4runner.

Interesting cause I have read numerous threads here, toy120 and toyotatech that refer to them as struts. Even when I went and purchased my billies 5100s the fronts were called struts just sayin

Top pic of Billies (Struts)
2nd pic coilovers

Attached Images

   

Well, they're wrong.
Strut

Double wishbone


More from Wikipedia:
A strut is a structural component designed to resist longitudinal compression. Struts provide outwards-facing support in their lengthwise direction, which can be used to keep two other components separate, performing the opposite function of a tie. They are commonly used in architecture and engineering.

As components of an automobile chassis, they can be passive braces to reinforce the chassis and/or body, or active components of the suspension. An automotive suspension strut combines the primary function of a shock absorber (as a damper), with the ability to support sideways loads not along its axis of compression, somewhat similar to a sliding pillar suspension, thus eliminating the need for an upper suspension arm. This means that a strut must have a more rugged design, with mounting points near its middle for attachment of such loads.

new bilsteins and klunk still there! threw away a good set of xreas
Back to the drawing board.......out of cash for the moment. Got over a grand into this in the last 30 days... I will find it, just not sure when or how much...LOL

There is no play in them..BUT...I am not sure about anything in my front end steering/suspension right now....maybe total dissasembly will be next.